Aluminium alloy processed by square‐column composite structure and its anti‐icing characteristics

To prepare surfaces with stable anti-icing properties, square-column micro/nanocomposite structures were fabricated using wire-cut electrical discharge machining. Smooth and hydrophobic/superhydrophobic surfaces were tested for wettability and were subjected to mechanistic analysis. Droplets were found to produce an ‘air cushion effect’ upon contact with the microstructure, which reduced the contact area between the droplets and the aluminium...